1. Chapter 5 Introduction to Sensation
Sensation: your window to the world
Perception: interpreting what comes in your window.

2. Sensation
The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive stimulus from the environment.

3. Perception
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.

4. Bottom-Up processing v. Top-down Processing
Our sensory and perceptual processes work together to help us sort out complex processes

5. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

6. What if we could sense everything?
Life would hurt.
So we can only take in a window of what is out there.
This is the study of psychophysics: relationship between physical stimuli and our psychological experiences to them.

7. Absolute Threshold
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

9. Signal Detection Theory
Predicts how we detect a stimulus amid other stimuli.
Assumes that we do not have an absolute threshold.
We detect stuff based on our experiences, motivations and fatigue level.
Signal Detection Theory

10. Subliminal Stimulation
Below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness.
Does this work?
Yes and No
Slide studies showed some emotional reactivity (called priming a response).
The effects are subtle and fleeting.

11. Difference Threshold
The minimum difference that a person can detect between two stimuli.
Also known as Just Noticeable Difference

12. Weber’s Law
The idea that, to perceive a difference between two stimuli, they must differ by a constant percentage; not a constant amount.

13. Because our sensory neurons fire less frequently
Sensory Adaptation
Diminished sensitivity as a result of constant stimulation.
Because our sensory neurons fire less frequently

14. Conversion of one form of energy to another.
Transduction
Conversion of one form of energy to another.
How is this important when studying sensation?
Stimulus energies to neural impulses.
For example:
Light energy to vision.
Chemical energy to smell and taste.
Sound waves to sound.